Referendum on right to work influencing Republican primary in Missouri House District 109

Right to work is dividing the three Republicans hoping to succeed District 110 Rep. Paul Curtman, who’s running for state auditor.

John Simmons.

Credit Citizens for Simmons, via Facebook

John Simmons, 52, of Krakow, is supporting Proposition A, which would make Missouri the 28th right-to-work state.

“Some of the political activity that’s used by some of the dues, and some of the unions — not all — are really affecting the First Amendment rights [of employees],” he said. “To me, it’s a freedom issue, where they should be able to choose work and have the availability of all types of work without a restriction of having to pay a fee to continue work or to get hired on.”

Curtman has endorsed Simmons.

Kevin Juergens, 53, of Washington, says he’s voting “no” on Prop A.

Kevin Juergens.

Credit Citizens for Kevin Juergen, via Facebook

“Our unemployment rate is about 2 percent, and things are good, and right now, we see it as something we don’t need,” he said. “I hate to go against the grain – I am Republican – but when you get 310,000 signatures to put [Prop A] on a ballot in November, and then we move it up to Aug. 7, I think that sort of sends the wrong message to people.”

Bob Oreskovic, 53, of Union, is neutral, but said he’ll honor the decision of voters in his district, regardless of the outcome.

“Whatever the vote is, I will respect that,” he said. “If ‘no’ wins, I will respect that vote, and I will not support any future legislation to re-do right to work if it were to come down the legislative calendar.”

Bob Oreskovic.

Credit Bob Oreskovic via Facebook

Oreskovic also said he won’t join in any effort to undo right to work next year if the majority of voters in his district support it.

All three candidates support the November referendum that would raise Missouri’s fuel tax by 10 cents a gallon in order to increase funding for roads and bridges, although Simmons said any increase should be balanced out by cuts elsewhere.

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The vote Tuesday to determine whether Missouri becomes the 28th right-to-work state will reverberate nationally and could have a huge effect on state lawmakers next year.

“We got to beat ‘em bad,” Greater St. Louis Labor Council President Pat White said as their campaign to defeat Proposition A heads into the home stretch. “We got to beat ‘em bad enough, so that next year we can go to these Republicans — and it ain’t all Republicans — and we can say, ‘This is how many people voted against this in your district.’”

Three Democrats in north St. Louis County are seeking to take embattled state representative Courtney Curtis’ seat in Missouri’s 73rd district.

Curtis has served in the Missouri House since 2012 and was eligible to run for a final term. However, he chose not to file for the state representative race because he intended to run for state Senate.

Those plans changed when Curtis was fined $114,000 for violating state-campaign finance laws. The Missouri Democratic Party blocked his attempt to file because he hadn’t paid the fines.